'Biggest game' awaits Maple Leafs in Florida

SUNRISE, Fla. — The Maple Leafs hope another game in Sunrise will not see the sun set on their tenuous playoff hopes.

While there has been no real rivalry between these teams since the Panthers entered the NHL in the mid-1990s, the two are expected to scratch and claw for third place in the Atlantic Division right to the wire in April, with no guarantee the loser will have enough reserve points to get in as one of the two wildcard teams. Currently, Metropolitan clubs with more points control those spots.

The Leafs have lost six straight games at BB&T Arena going back to March of 2017, despite a usually vocal turnout of Snowbirds in Toronto sweaters. And a 5-3 loss to Florida at Scotiabank Arena on Feb. 3 halted the Leafs’ last three-game win streak and saw
Frederik Andersen
hurt his neck. If the Cats win in regulation Thursday, the Leafs will be squeezed out of third again.

“It’s massive,” said defenceman
Travis Dermott
. “Probably the biggest game of the year for us. We’ve let it down a couple of times in the past with this battle, so we’re definitely coming in with some knives in our back, ready to shoot back at these guys. A win tomorrow would feel big for us.”

Dermott will have about 15 friends and relatives who live in Florida and the Newmarket area coming in support.

SECRET WEAPON?

If former Florida assistant
Paul McFarland
has a formula to beat his old team, it’s yet to work in this year’s series.

But Toronto head coach
Sheldon Keefe
says it has been invaluable having him on staff to be briefed on Panthers’ personnel and other Atlantic teams. And now Keefe has another source to mine for intel: Former Florida winger
Denis Malgin
, traded to the Leafs last week.

“I haven’t done that quite yet, I certainly plan on putting the bug in his ear and see what we might get,” Keefe said. “But the game is still played on the ice. From Paul, we know a lot about their group, we have a pretty good sense.

“We talked today (as a team), the preparation begins now. We didn’t get the result we wanted last time in Toronto, but I liked a lot of things in that game and I think that’s a pretty good recipe for us.”

WILLY TUNED IN

William Nylander
’s between-the-legs goal on Tuesday in Tampa Bay was a popular clip, making it to ESPN’s
Sports Center
as highlight of the night. The power-play strike was also Nylander’s team-best sixth game winner.

“I didn’t really have time to think,” insisted Nylander, now two goals shy of 30. “It just kind of happened. Nice that it went in.”

Where
Kasperi Kapanen
tried a similar move on
Andrei Vasilevskiy
on a breakway earlier in the game and couldn’t elevate the puck, Nylander in close quarters was able to roof it.

“I can’t really see anything so I’m going by feel, but you have to get it up,” Nylander said. “Vaslevskiy’s (pad) is right along the ice.”

Keefe has learned to green-light the creativity among Toronto’s forward group in those scenarios and preach defence when the time in right.

“Yes, in those situations, in alone with the goalie like that,” Keefe agreed. “Kappy’s a guy that’s really moved his feet, too, and that’s three (breakaways) in a row. He’s making a really big difference in our team and we need more of that from he and Will. Big-time goal, big-time finish (by Nylander). He’s got those hands in and around the net and it’s nice to see.”

LOOSE LEAFS

Keefe on killing three Tampa Bay power plays on Tuesday, one of the NHL’s best special teams’ group: “We just jumped on loose pucks really well, maybe caught them cheating just a little bit, maybe not respecting we can jump behind them. It happens to us just the same” …
Tyson Barrie
noted he was nowhere near the NHL when he was the 19-year-old
Rasmus Sandin
’s age, never mind in the league being paired with another youngster,
Timothy Liljegren
. “I was still a junior (in Kelowna),” Barrie said. “Playing as well as they are, in the situations they’re in, I can’t imagine what that would’ve been like for me” …
Tanner MacMaster
scored 23 seconds into overtime as the Marlies won a 4-3 Wednesday schoolday game against Cleveland at Coca-Cola Coliseum.
Miikka Salomaki
and defenceman
Miles Kapla
had their first Marlies goals, both assisted by
Tyler Gaudet
, who also scored.
Joseph Woll
had 14 saves for the win.